Straight Talk Bring Your Own GSM Phone Program (Not a Loophole)

[aka414]

There was always talk of a new plan but I didn't realize it's going to be this awesome news.

Just sucks for those like myself who purchased the E71..

[1cewolf]

This is exactly the sort of deal I've been looking for! I'm sick of being stuck with ancient, locked-down phones on Virgin Mobile, and I need more than 300 minutes.

Can anyone recommend a good Android phone for ~$400 or less? I'm going to start looking on my own, but suggestions are always helpful.

[209chromatic]

I still like the E71 sim trick more. specially if its true that you won't be able to use the 3 month + phone deal @ $99. We will just have to see if this plan has the same limits as the other one. I would recommend finding an iPhone 4 on Craigslist or eBay. I see some go for around $270. Jailbreak it and install Siri. 4s are just to expensive right now IMO.

[Matthew Curtis]

I have an HTC Merge will a T-mobile sim card work with it. I have tried the E71 sim card and it worked great besides it only gets Edge. Just wondering if anyone has tried it?



I found these specs they match up but don't know if it would work.
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3...&idPhone2=3739

[brentett]

This is exactly the sort of deal I've been looking for! I'm sick of being stuck with ancient, locked-down phones on Virgin Mobile, and I need more than 300 minutes.

Can anyone recommend a good Android phone for ~$400 or less? I'm going to start looking on my own, but suggestions are always helpful.

Right now the best phone on the market is the galaxy s2. You can find an att branded one for less than 400 on ebay. I have one and I haven't seen a better phone yet.

[cmstlist]

I have an HTC Merge will a T-mobile sim card work with it. I have tried the E71 sim card and it worked great besides it only gets Edge. Just wondering if anyone has tried it?



I found these specs they match up but don't know if it would work.
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3...&idPhone2=3739

If those specs are correct, it'd explain why no 3G. Merge has only one 3G band and it's not used in North America.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk

[RawhideYeeehaw]

Just got off the phone with both StraightTalk (Tracphone) Corporate office and StraightTalk sales department. They'll be using StraightTalk's network, which is AT&T's post-paid network (not the smaller footprint pre-paid network), regardless of which SIM card you receive (AT&T or T-Mobile). They suggest you get an AT&T sim card for an AT&T phone and a T-Mobile sim card for a T-Mobile phone. Both sim cards will provide the exact same service on the exact same coverage map seen at straighttalk.com because it's AT&T's 850/1900 frequency. So make sure your phone supports 850/1900!.

Feb 7th is the "live" date for ordering these sim cards and they can be ordered from http://www.straighttalksim.com/index.php or by calling 1-855-222-2355.

The deal with data is that tethering/wifi hotspot is against their terms and conditions and they'll "notice" if your usage is increasing. There is no daily/monthly data limits if utilizing data on your phone.

[benjamin.kelley]

Right now the best phone on the market is the galaxy s2. You can find an att branded one for less than 400 on ebay. I have one and I haven't seen a better phone yet.

Another good phone is the Samsung Infuse 4G. Big screen. It comes with froyo, so you can root it in a matter of seconds with one click methods and many many gingerbread rooms out there. I use a stock GB rom overclocked to 1.6GHZ. Great camera and 16gb built in storage plus expandable SD. Can find them around $200 or less

Sent from my SGH-I997 using HowardForums

[Mr.Mischief]

Just got off the phone with both StraightTalk (Tracphone) Corporate office and StraightTalk sales department. They'll be using StraightTalk's network, which is AT&T's post-paid network (not the smaller footprint pre-paid network), regardless of which SIM card you receive (AT&T or T-Mobile). They suggest you get an AT&T sim card for an AT&T phone and a T-Mobile sim card for a T-Mobile phone. Both sim cards will provide the exact same service on the exact same coverage map seen at straighttalk.com because it's AT&T's 850/1900 frequency. So make sure your phone supports 850/1900!.

Feb 7th is the "live" date for ordering these sim cards and they can be ordered from http://www.straighttalksim.com/index.php or by calling 1-855-222-2355.

The deal with data is that tethering/wifi hotspot is against their terms and conditions and they'll "notice" if your usage is increasing. There is no daily/monthly data limits if utilizing data on your phone.

This would suck for T-Mobile users, no 3G for them.

[RawhideYeeehaw]

This would suck for T-Mobile users, no 3G for them.

WRONG!

You'll get 3G data speed regardless of the whether you have an AT&T or T-Mobile phone/sim card. I just got off the phone with corporate and confirmed.

[dynastyy]

Just got off the phone with both StraightTalk (Tracphone) Corporate office and StraightTalk sales department. They'll be using StraightTalk's network, which is AT&T's post-paid network (not the smaller footprint pre-paid network), regardless of which SIM card you receive (AT&T or T-Mobile). They suggest you get an AT&T sim card for an AT&T phone and a T-Mobile sim card for a T-Mobile phone. Both sim cards will provide the exact same service on the exact same coverage map seen at straighttalk.com because it's AT&T's 850/1900 frequency. So make sure your phone supports 850/1900!.

Feb 7th is the "live" date for ordering these sim cards and they can be ordered from http://www.straighttalksim.com/index.php or by calling 1-855-222-2355.

The deal with data is that tethering/wifi hotspot is against their terms and conditions and they'll "notice" if your usage is increasing. There is no daily/monthly data limits if utilizing data on your phone.

If this is correct I guess I will be selling my e71. How does this work with transferring my prepaid ST service and phone number to a new a sim?

[RawhideYeeehaw]

If this is correct I guess I will be selling my e71. How does this work with transferring my prepaid ST service and phone number to a new a sim?

You port your # over at the time you activate your sim in your byod. You first order your $15 sim card on or after Feb 7th, then after receiving it and during the sim+phone activation is when you port. I asked corporate about that too lol.

[cmstlist]

WRONG!

You'll get 3G data speed regardless of the whether you have an AT&T or T-Mobile phone/sim card. I just got off the phone with corporate and confirmed.

To get 3G data speeds on most T-Mobile phones, the network has to be providing access to T-Mobile's AWS (1700 MHz) network too, not just to AT&T's 850/1900 3G network. Otherwise phones like the G2X and Optimus T would only be able to get EDGE.

Are you saying that the same ST SIM card will permit access both to AT&T and T-Mobile towers?

[RawhideYeeehaw]

To get 3G data speeds on most T-Mobile phones, the network has to be providing access to T-Mobile's AWS (1700 MHz) network too, not just to AT&T's 850/1900 3G network. Otherwise phones like the G2X and Optimus T would only be able to get EDGE.

Are you saying that the same ST SIM card will permit access both to AT&T and T-Mobile towers?

The ST Sim Card for T-Mobile phones allows T-Mobile phones to operate on AT&T's 850/1900 3G network. That's why ST is stressing that your BYOD has the capability to access to the 850/1900 frequencies. Obviously the ST AT&T Sim Cars allows AT&T phones access to the 850/1900 3G network too.

[dynastyy]

You port your # over at the time you activate your sim in your byod. You first order your $15 sim card on or after Feb 7th, then after receiving it and during the sim+phone activation is when you port. I asked corporate about that too lol.

But what happens to my 2.5 months service I still have on my account.